78 motorhome 440. info needed
#2556344
09/29/18 06:46 PM
09/29/18 06:46 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
OP
Circle Track
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OP
Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
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Got a line on one for reasonable $$$. Any caveats to lookout for on the eng? Not sure on the year, might be 80's. has thermoquad/ecu. Thank you for your time.
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: 78 motorhome 440. info needed
[Re: RapidRobert]
#2556352
09/29/18 07:07 PM
09/29/18 07:07 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,938
Spokane Valley, WA
Big Bad Bee
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,938
Spokane Valley, WA
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Typically they are low mileage and haven’t been rebuilt. Some had forged cranks. Many had HD rods. People will blow smoke about thin-walled cylinders, less ribbing, more or less nickel in he casting. Blow it all off. The only drawback is that it will be low compression. So they need a performance rebuild. No biggy. They are great rebuilders. Keep the block, crank and heads and toss the rest.
I’m listening.
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Re: 78 motorhome 440. info needed
[Re: Big Bad Bee]
#2556401
09/29/18 09:11 PM
09/29/18 09:11 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,680
Wichita
GY3
master
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master
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,680
Wichita
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'78 was the last year.
They make great engines, even with low compression.
People poo poo the cast cranks, but they are good for at least 600 hp.
Get the transmisson too. Sometimes they have a brake on the tailshaft, but the internals have 4 pinion planetaries and the front cases are the same as found in cars.
'63 Dodge 330
11.19 @ 121 mph
Pump gas, n/a, through the mufflers on street tires with 3.54's. 3,600 lbs.
10.01 @ 133mph with a 250 shot of nitrous an a splash of race gas. 1.36 60 ft. 3,700 lbs.
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Re: 78 motorhome 440. info needed
[Re: RapidRobert]
#2556408
09/29/18 09:30 PM
09/29/18 09:30 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,494
Western Colorado High Desert
moparmarks
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,494
Western Colorado High Desert
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Should have the 452 motorhome version head with the steam ports on the exhaust valves.
Toss the heavy rods and low compression pistons.
The later blocks aren't thin walled and actually have more ribbing than the earlier ones.
72 Satellite Sebring Plus 440, 72 Dart 5.9 4-spd, 68 Valiant, 73 W200, 78 D100 sb, 78 D200, 98 DAKOTA, . Moparmarks Parts & Restorations Desert Mopar Metal Grand Jct. CO 970-261-7039 http://moparmark.com/motormangj@gmail.com
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Re: 78 motorhome 440. info needed
[Re: moparmarks]
#2556451
09/29/18 11:31 PM
09/29/18 11:31 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
OP
Circle Track
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OP
Circle Track
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Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
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Yeah I get the whole thing & its as big as a bus, 71K miles he said. thanks guys!
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: 78 motorhome 440. info needed
[Re: RapidRobert]
#2556479
09/30/18 12:34 AM
09/30/18 12:34 AM
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,134
Lost in Time
Iowan
super stock
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super stock
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,134
Lost in Time
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Theres a decent chance the heads ar cracked.
Have a great day
Iowan
"obsolete is neat"
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Re: 78 motorhome 440. info needed
[Re: GY3]
#2556480
09/30/18 12:35 AM
09/30/18 12:35 AM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 101
S.E. WI
RichL1967
member
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member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 101
S.E. WI
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'78 was the last year.
They make great engines, even with low compression.
People poo poo the cast cranks, but they are good for at least 600 hp.
Get the transmisson too. Sometimes they have a brake on the tailshaft, but the internals have 4 pinion planetaries and the front cases are the same as found in cars. I have this same thing from a 73. After you build up the motor, anything special you would want to do to the transmission?
Common sense and caution are factors which cannot be built into any product. These must be supplied by the operator.
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Re: 78 motorhome 440. info needed
[Re: RichL1967]
#2556588
09/30/18 12:24 PM
09/30/18 12:24 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
OP
Circle Track
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OP
Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
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After you build up the motor, anything special you would want to do to the transmission? the potential head cracks is bothersome. I was thinking of putting it in my 65D100 pickup for a daily driver. The guy is supposedly being kicked out of his storage (parents spacious acreage...) $350 ain't bad tho. If someone pulled the eng out for me they could have that trans. On second thought I may have to pass, as I just have way too many unfinished projexts as is but 440 grabbed my attention.
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: 78 motorhome 440. info needed
[Re: RichL1967]
#2558433
10/03/18 05:21 PM
10/03/18 05:21 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,680
Wichita
GY3
master
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master
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,680
Wichita
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'78 was the last year.
They make great engines, even with low compression.
People poo poo the cast cranks, but they are good for at least 600 hp.
Get the transmisson too. Sometimes they have a brake on the tailshaft, but the internals have 4 pinion planetaries and the front cases are the same as found in cars. I have this same thing from a 73. After you build up the motor, anything special you would want to do to the transmission? It is old enough that the seals and clutches need to be replaced. The rubber seals harden and quit working properly and the clutches start to flake off. A rebuild kit is under $150 from Transtar. Do a Trans-go shift kit to eliminate overlap while you are in there.
'63 Dodge 330
11.19 @ 121 mph
Pump gas, n/a, through the mufflers on street tires with 3.54's. 3,600 lbs.
10.01 @ 133mph with a 250 shot of nitrous an a splash of race gas. 1.36 60 ft. 3,700 lbs.
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Re: 78 motorhome 440. info needed
[Re: elmor353]
#2558507
10/03/18 06:22 PM
10/03/18 06:22 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,680
Wichita
GY3
master
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master
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,680
Wichita
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78 may be the last production year for big blocks, but they were used through the early 80's in motorhomes. I have a friend with an 81 motorhome and he told me it had a 440. I argued that it couldn't be because of the manufacture date of the unit, but sure enough, it is a factory 440 in a 1981. A Chrysler parts manager said that the motorhome companies bought truck chassis in bulk and had them sitting on their lots to build. Therefore many motorhomes were built in the 80's using older truck chassis and engines and titled them in whatever year the motorhome was built. So, if the op says he has an 80's motorhome with a 440, he has an 80's motorhome with a 440. Yes, but the engine itself will be '78 or earlier casting.
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